About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the helmet, which I purchased with my own money in January of 2022.

My Take

The Giro Emerge Spherical is one of my favorite helmets. I am able to wear just about any hat underneath to keep warm, and I’m also totally comfortable going bare bones. I also love how simple it is to remove the ear pads and replace them in case the conditions change.

About the helmet I own

• Model: Giro Emerge Spherical Helmet 2022
• Size: Medium

About me

• Height: 5’6”
• Weight: 130lbs
• Head circumference: 57cm
• Goggles: Oakley Flight Deck
• Experience: 26 years of skiing and snowboarding

Test conditions

• When I bought this helmet: January 2022
• Days tested: 45
• Where I’ve used it: Beijing Olympics 2022
• How I’ve used it: Working/Resort

How it performs

What I was looking for

I didn’t know I would need one and was given this one in a pinch—absolutely made my day. It was the shape I like and ended up being more versatile than I had even hoped for. I was hoping for something that would allow me to mix a hat with a bandana and then some, as well as something that didn’t require too much messing with if I needed to remove and replace consistently.

Why I chose this gear

I loved the color, and even when working in it specifically, it kept its appearance. I also can’t overestimate how comfortable I feel in it—physically, but also aesthetically. I’ve used Smith and POC and a few others, but none of them allowed me to really feel like my style was being matched along with remaining warm and safe.

What I love about it

• Protection: This helmet does a great job of making me feel secure while skiing down the mountain. It fits snugly over my head but doesn’t have any hard plastic notches in the back that tend to give me a headache. This does mean that I need to make sure that the sizing is exactly correct because there isn’t an easy way to tighten it. I have found that hats or bandanas tend to help me get the exact snugness and warmth, or breathability, that I want on any given day.
• Comfort: This helmet is extremely comfortable. It doesn’t squeeze my head and has an elastic that sits really nicely at the base of my skull so that it kind of cradles right above my neck. I really appreciate the mechanism they used instead of the ratchet that appears in other helmets, which almost always gives me a headache.
• Sizing: I have found myself to be a medium when it comes to most helmets. This one is great because it comes with three different padding systems and removable ear pads, allowing me to really get the best fit. They are very easy to switch out with simple Velcro. I used the smallest one because I found that the lower elastic makes the helmet secure on my head, and I can still fit a hat underneath on extra cold days.
• Liner: Three different padding configurations that are easily replaceable with Velcro make the helmet very comfortable, and the MIPS technology lends to the added safety for light and hard impacts.
• Breathability: I typically wear hats underneath my helmets, especially in Beijing, where I used this one consistently. With the correct hat, I was never cold but was still comfortable all day. There were a few times that it got pretty hot working on the hill, however, and I would replace my hat with a bandana. The helmet still allowed for the air to get through the vents, and I never overheated.
• Earpads: I love that the earpads are removable. This feature allows me to hear what’s going on around me and also be extra comfortable. It’s a simple pull design too, so replacing them on extra cold days is easily doable.
• Goggle compatibility: Very versatile. It has a goggle track on the inside, so I am able to fit my goggles on top or underneath the helmet—depending on what kind of activity I am participating in that day.
• Durability: It seems extremely durable so far. There are very few scratches considering how many trees and rocks I’ve actually snuck under and around.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Goggle compatibility: There is no gap that I have noticed, but that would probably depend on what kind of goggle one owns. I typically prefer to have my goggles strapped over the helmet.

Favorite moment with this gear

I was skiing down the extremely unforgiving Beijing slopes when I caught an edge and took a pretty hard tumble. While I barely remember hyperextending my knee, I do remember smacking my head pretty hard and getting up and really only worrying about my knee. The fact that my head wasn’t even throbbing made a pretty big impression, and I was able to focus on my impending injury issues.

Value for the money versus other options

The Emerge Spherical Helmet is one of the pricier helmets on the market, even when compared to other Giro helmets. The feature that makes the price worth it, though, is the inclusion of the MIPS technology—and the freestyle shape that’s just fun to rock.

Final verdict

This is a really awesome helmet that I think can fit just about anyone who is willing to test out their favorite fit and if need be, mix it up a bit.